Truly, from fear of this infinite breath (they were filled with dismay): recite (the words of the Qur’án) but they refused to bear it (the trust offered to them).
خود ز بیم این دم بی‌‌منتها ** باز خوان فأبين أن یحملنها
Else, how should (the words) they shrank from it have been (in the Qur’án), unless from fear of it the heart of the mountain had become blood?
ور نه خود أشفقن منها چون بدی ** گرنه از بیمش دل که خون شدی
Yesternight this (breath) presented itself (to me) in a different guise (but) some morsels (of food) came in and barred the way.1960
دوش دیگر لون این می‌‌داد دست ** لقمه‌‌ی چندی در آمد ره ببست
For a morsel's sake a Luqmán has become (held in custody as) a pledge: ’tis the time for Luqmán: begone, O morsel!
بهر لقمه گشته لقمانی گرو ** وقت لقمان است ای لقمه برو
These pricks (of the flesh) for desire of a morsel! Seek ye always (to draw forth) the thorn from the sole of Luqmán.
از هوای لقمه‌‌ی این خار خار ** از کف لقمان همی‌‌جویید خار
In his sole there is (really) no thorn or even the shadow of it, but because of concupiscence ye have not that discernment.
در کف او خار و سایه‌‌ش نیز نیست ** لیکتان از حرص آن تمییز نیست
Know that the thorn is that which thou, because thou art very greedy and very blind, hast deemed to be a date.
خار دان آن را که خرما دیده‌‌ای ** ز آن که بس نان کور و بس نادیده‌‌ای
Inasmuch as Luqmán's spirit is the rose-garden of God, why is the foot of his spirit wounded by a thorn?1965
جان لقمان که گلستان خداست ** پای جانش خسته‌‌ی خاری چراست
This thorn-eating existence is (like) a camel, and upon this camel one born of Mustafá (Mohammed) is mounted.
اشتر آمد این وجود خار خوار ** مصطفی زادی بر این اشتر سوار
O camel, on thy back is a bale of roses, from the perfume of which a hundred rosaries grew within thee.
اشترا تنگ گلی بر پشت تست ** کز نسیمش در تو صد گلزار رست